We enjoyed the wonderful “May” weather in February by doing family things outside.
Today we went to the Rock Island Arsenal for a tour. We enjoyed the museum. We hadn’t been there since JP was young but he remembered this wall of guns & rifles from America’s whole history. Of course, he remembered. In his blood from early on!
This is where all the DOD targets are printed even today! Isn’t that amazing?
I liked this quote from Mark Twain describing the island… 3 miles x 1/2 a mile. Still the vast stone buildings and a lot of trees. Beautiful!
The National Cemetery
The chimes were playing “God Bless America” while we were there. I enjoy chimes, even the worn & minimal ones.
With all the spring weather, the pussy willow bushes were opening! There were 2 large bushes at the walkway to the Confederate Cemetery.
The Island was a POW camp during the Civil War and in close quarters about 1/3 died from smallpox going through very fast.
Stones 1, 2, & 3 ~ One hundred stones per row.
Confederate cemetery in the bright sunshine.
The Clock Tower
We also walked an artillery park there. The men enjoyed it and I sat on a bench with the sun on my face!
I had suggested another stop at a lock so we could park and look for eagles. I was vetoed.
However, we saw 2 sitting on ice that still remains in some backwater of the Mississippi River. Beautiful!
Afterwards, we took a short walk through Target, had mid-afternoon food at C-fil-A, and headed home. A good 6 hour day out & about and soaking in the warm air & sunshine!
and sew on... 
That is a good tour! Thanks for telling and showing us about the Arsenal. I am glad you had a beautiful day and that you all enjoyed it outside.
I’ve been to the arsenal a long time ago with one of the son’s class trip. We must not have gone to the cemetery and it looks very interesting. Sorry they vetoed the lock, but pretty cool that you got to see some eagles anyway. We went to the one in near Fulton last year and didn’t see one eagle. We did see some huge bird, so DH said it was worth it for that.